Then the incident happened and I was in the Hospital for a few days. I am now back at work and am checking my blood pressure at the same time, about an hour after I eat lunch.

1/17/2008 – 105/63
1/18/2008 – 109/71

Here are some numbers that I was getting while in the hospital and at home before coming back to work. These were taken at random times of the day so I am not sure how to compare them with the results above.

1/14/2008 – 97/68
1/15/2008 – 95/57
1/16/2008 – 95/68

I feel fine and if I hadn’t been tracking my blood pressure before the ‘incident‘ I wouldn’t be concerned. I would actually be glad to see that my Blood Pressure is so good. However, a 20 point reduction of my systolic pressure seems very strange to me. Especially since it did not lower gradually. Saturday is a clear marker for this lower number.

So any and all theories are welcomed. Even crazy theories that may involve alien abductions or that I am now a clone. (Those simply might be interesting to read).

2 Comments

Jen B.
on January 21, 2008 at 12:55 pm

This could be it……

Definition of Orthostatic hypotension

Orthostatic hypotension: A temporary lowering of blood pressure (hypotension) due usually to suddenly standing up (orthostatic). Orthostatic hypotension may be experienced by healthy people — it is more common in older people — who rise quickly from a chair, especially after a meal, and have a few seconds of disorientation.

The change in position causes a temporary reduction in blood flow and therefore a shortage of oxygen to the brain. This leads to lightheadedness and, sometimes, a “black out” episode, a loss of consciousness.

Symptoms include dizziness, feeling about to black out, and tunnel vision (all due to insufficient bloodflow to the brain). The symptoms are typically worse when standing and improve with lying down.

Tilt-table testing can be used to confirm orthostatic hypotension. Tilt-table testing involves placing the patient on a table with a foot-support. The table is tilted upward and blood pressure and pulse is measured while symptoms are recorded in various positions.

No treatment is needed for orthostatic hypotension. If someone with orthostatic hypotension faints, they will regain consciousness by simply sitting or lying down.

The person is thereafter advised to exercise caution and slow the process of changing positions from lying to sitting to standing. This simple technique can allow the body to adjust to the new position and permit the nerves to circulation of the legs to adjust slower in older person.

I just had my tilt table test today. This test is used to diagnose this as well as vasovagal syncope. I passed the test so that the doctors could rule out one more medical diagnosis. 🙂
I just wrote a bit more about this in my ‘Golden Ticket’ entry.